France 1590-X 1/4 ecu

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Jean Elsen sale 159, lot 1193
JE159-1193r.jpg

This specimen was lot 1193 in Jean Elsen sale 159 (Brussels, June 2024), where it sold for €500 (about US$642 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"FRANCE, Royaume, Charles X, cardinal de Bourbon (1589-1590), AR quart d'écu, 1590 X, Amiens. D/ Croix fleurdelisée. R/ Ecu de France couronné, entre II-II. Très rare. Très Beau. (kingdom of France, Charles X, cardinal of Bourbon 1589-90, silver quarter écu of 1590, Amiens mint. Obverse: floriate cross; reverse: crowned arms of France divide the value. Very rare, very fine.)"

This coin was struck by the Catholic League in the name of their candidate for the throne, Charles X. The problem was that the putative Charles X was an ordained priest and a prisoner of the (formerly) Protestant Henry IV. This was the largest silver coin regularly struck prior to the introduction of milled coinage in the 1640's. It had a face value of fifteen sols tournois. We don't know if the Amiens mint struck any quarts d'écu for Henry IV in 1590.

Recorded mintage: 14,995[2].

Specification: 9.71 g, 0.917 fine silver; this specimen 9,58 g.

Catalog reference: Sb 4670 (one example reported), Dupl-1177; Ci. 1487; Laf. 1021.

Source:

  • Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
  • Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
  • [2]Sombart, Stéphan, Franciae IV: Catalogue des Monnaies Royales Françaises de François Ier à Henri IV (1540-1610), Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 1997.
  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 159, Collection Harry Dewit, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.

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